Kayak Packing Vancouver Island

I'm looking for some advice.

I'm planning a kayak packing trip on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.  My choices are: The well trodden path from Tofino to the Hesquiat Peninsula or the less frequented circumnavigation of Nootka Island.
I'll be in search of scenic beauty, surf spots and fishing opportunities.  There's lots of general information on these areas but I'm hoping someone here has some more specific recomendations about dangerous areas, best landing zones, ocean conditions and camping areas and water replenishment. 

Have any of you attempted either of these routes? 



Update:  I just found the "[NFR] Vancouver Island Solo Wintertime Circumnavigation" post.  Good stuff but I still look forward to any of your personal annecdotes on this area.

Spot,

We took a water taxi out to Friendly Cove on Nootka Island at the mouth of Nootka Sound last summer.  See http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,347.0.html.

Beautiful area.

You may want to get in contact with Moutcha Jim up there.  He knows scoop on kayaking and camping in the area.  Contact info is at his website at http://www.moutchabay.com/

If you do it in late August you can stay up there for the Moutcha Bay derby over labor day.  A lot of us will be there.

-Allen

That's some good info!

Thanks Allen

-Mark-

Cool idea.

I have a book, Kayak Routes of the Pacific Northwest Coast, edited by Peter McGee . It has a short chapter covering the Nootka Sound and Island area. It says that travelling the west coast (outside) of the island should be done by expert paddlers only. (No slight intended, just a heads-up!)

If it were me, I would choose Nootka because I think it would be less crowded. The terrain is spectacular, but much of the forest (around Moutcha Bay) has been brutalized.